Chinese investment opportunity for the Dutch semicon sector

Barry Peet, managing director Business Cluster Semiconductors (BCS) published a most interesting blog on the website of The Economic Board. He elaborates on new opportunities for the Dutch semicon sector in China. Which steps to take?

BCS is busy developing strategic relationships with China. The growth of this sector in China is going extremely fast. Although it is not the largest country yet when it comes to semiconductor, it is the largest country when you look at investment and growth in this sector.

The Chinese government has set itself the goal to no longer be dependent on foreign countries within five years when it comes to producing chips. They want to have that in their own hands. As a result, an enormous number of chip factories are being built up there, and these are really gigantic numbers. The next step is to fill those plants with the right machines and that is where Dutch expertise comes into play.

In this light, the investment group Xiamen Investment Group visited our region for the second time in December. This group specifically invests in the semiconductors, although until now they were mainly active in China and Asia. They want to expand to Europe. Their goal is to help companies and to establish contacts with the Chinese market, not to bring them to China. During this visit we were given the chance to show what is happening in this region in the area of ?? semiconductors and how our ecosystem works.

Through a party such as the Xiamen Investment Group, we as BCS have access to a network of companies in China in which they have invested before. In this way we are looking for an entry in China to help the Dutch industry in the field of talent development, investments and B2B. The next step is that we are going to Xiamen next year, to visit companies and meet entrepreneurs.

Dutch companies often regard investments by Chinese as too much of a threat. Entrepreneurs are afraid that they will be bought up and that their people and technology will be brought to China. Of course, you have to be afraid of that, but also look at the Chinese investments recently made in Nexperia and Ampleon. These investments are a good example of how it can be done. The investment in these companies ensures that they get the chance to grow. And this growth again provides a boost for the Dutch and regional economies.